Sports Spirit

Renault escape 'spying' punishment

2007-12-07T08:08:00.000-08:00

Formula One: Renault escape 'spying' punishment

Friday December 07, 2007
MONACO, (AFP) - Renault have escaped punishment in the latest spying row to rock Formula One.

The sport's governing body, the FIA, found the French team to be in breach of regulations when they were accused of being in possession of technical data of rivals McLaren.

"The World Motor Sport Council found Renault F1 to be in breach of article 151c of the International Sporting Code but imposed no penalty," said a FIA statement.

"Detailed reasons for this decision will be issued on December 7 and a transcript of the proceedings will be published as soon as possible thereafter."

The decision could clear the way for former world champion driver Fernando Alonso to return to the team with whom he won two titles before his ill-starred switch to McLaren in 2007.

Renault F1 chief Flavio Briatore said he was delighted with the decision not to punish his team.

"I would like to thank Renault, our title sponsor ING and all our partners for their wholehearted support during this sensitive period," he said in a statement.

"I also wish to pay tribute to the team, which has handled the matter with integrity and dignity. We are pleased that we can now focus fully on our preparations for the 2008 championship."

Renault had vehemently denied any wrong-doing.

They had been accused of receiving information that included the layout and critical dimensions of the McLaren car.

McLaren were fined 47.5 million pound and kicked out of the constructors' championship after being found guilty on a similar charge in September.

But the French team denied confidential data brought to the team by a former McLaren engineer was used in their 2007 F1 car.

Renault, who won the drivers' and constructors' titles in 2005 and 2006, insisted they had nothing to hide and revealed that engineer Phil Mackereth was suspended on September 6.

They admitted the information was brought to the team by Mackereth, who loaded it onto their F1 file system "without the knowledge of anyone in authority in the team."

Renault said they immediately informed McLaren of the situation and then notified the FIA.

Renault finished third in the constructors' championship behind Ferrari and BMW Sauber last season.

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Ralf Schumacher hints at retirement

2007-12-07T08:02:00.000-08:00

Formula One: Ralf Schumacher hints at retirement

Friday December 07, 2007
BERLIN (AFP) - Ralf Schumacher looks set to call time on his Formula One career after a poor test drive for Force India, according to reports in the German press on Friday.

Schumacher has been out of contract since October when his Toyota contract expired and has struggled to find another team after the worst season in his 11-year career left him 16th in the World Drivers Championship.

"It looks like that was the last time I will drive a Formula One car," the 32-year-old younger brother of seven-times world champion Michael told German tabloid Bild on Friday.

"It is not expected that I join Force India, I took on the test drive as an opportunity to prove myself."

After the test drive in Spain, Schumacher was 20th and last of all the test drivers, nearly three seconds behind leader BMW driver Robert Kubica.

Force India, formerly known as Spyker, had been seen as a potential employer for Schumacher after spells with Jordan (1997-98), Williams (1999-2004) and Toyota (2005-07).

"I would like to continue my career in F1, but it is not an obligation. I would like to continue, but I don't know if these are the right conditions," he added on television channel RTL.

Ralf Schumacher has already offered his services at McLaren-Mercedes to succeed Spaniard Fernando Alonso and has been told they will make a decision on who will partner Lewis Hamilton in January.

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Cricket India: Hold-up in naming new coach

2007-12-04T10:32:00.000-08:00

Cricket India: Hold-up in naming new coach

NEW DELHI (AFP) - The appointment of former South Africa batsman Gary Kirsten as the new India coach has been delayed, with the cricket board citing minor last-minute glitches Tuesday.

The board, however, denied reports that Kirsten had delayed accepting the job because of resentment among senior players.

"We have received an e-mail from Kirsten. There are some minor issues relating to working arrangements, which will be sorted out in a couple of days," the cricket board's vice-president Rajiv Shukla told AFP.

"He has sought clarification over some issues but these do not relate to the so-called reservation among senior players over his appointment," he said.

Kirsten, 40, was to sign a contract with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday after impressing a selection panel in an interview last week.

But he delayed signing amid media reports that quoted him as saying he wanted to clarify about "unhappiness" among some senior Indian players over his appointment.

"I have heard the rumours about some senior players expressing their concern about my possible appointment and I would prefer to have clarity on that before I commit myself to the job," Kirsten was quoted as saying on the website cricinfo.com.

"I'm not sure whether the players do have concerns or not. I only met (skipper) Anil Kumble on my recent trip to Delhi and he was very supportive.

"If there are concerns then I would like to find out whether they are about me as an individual or the process by which I was interviewed and then offered the job," the website quoted him as saying on Monday.

India's daily Mumbai Mirror also quoted unnamed senior India players as saying the current management structure was working well and that Kirsten's appointment was unnecessary. "There is absolutely no need for a coach at this moment," one was quoted as saying.

Kirsten, who quit international cricket in 2004 after scoring 7,289 runs in 101 Tests, said he did not want to rush into signing the deal as it was a very important position in world cricket.

"The decision needs to be made carefully and in conjunction with all the right people, but mostly the players," he said. "You can't coach any team if you don't have the players 'buy in'. I've written to the board to explain my feelings."

India have been without a regular coach since April, when former Australian captain Greg Chappell resigned following nation's shock first-round exit from the World Cup in the Caribbean.

Three men have been in temporary charge since then after South Africa's Graham Ford, who coaches English county team Kent, turned down an offer from the BCCI.

Former all-rounder Ravi Shastri managed the team for the tour of Bangladesh in May and veteran Chandu Borde, 73, took over during the visit to Ireland and England from July to September.

Former Mumbai first-class cricketer Lalchand Rajput then took charge for the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa in September, which India won, and continued for the home one-dayers against Australia and Pakistan.

India are to leave for Australia later this month to play four Tests and a limited-overs tri-series also featuring Sri Lanka.

Espnstar.com

Asian Golf

2007-12-03T07:50:00.002-08:00

Asian Golf: Order of Merit chase down to the wire in Thailand

Monday December 03, 2007
BANGKOK, (AFP) - The chase for the Asian Tour's Order of Merit title reaches its climax this week at the season-ending Volvo Masters of Asia, with China's Liang Wen-chong and Thailand's Chapchai Nirat locked in battle.

Liang, the money leader since May, is dreaming of becoming the first Asian number one from China, but Chapchai can deny him if he pulls off a home victory at the Thai Country Club and Liang finishes outside the top three.

The 750,000 US dollar tournament begins on Thursday and will bring the curtain down on a record-breaking Asian Tour season which included an unprecedented 28 events.

The Chinese star presently leads the UBS Order of Merit race on 525,570 dollars, with the big-hitting Thai trailing by 95,005 dollars in second.

A cheque of 135,000 dollars awaits the Volvo winner on Sunday.

While the 24-year-old Chapchai is feeling the strain of competing in his ninth tournament in 10 weeks, he is ready for one final push.

"Playing at home in Thailand is an advantage because I feel really comfortable with my game. I do not feel any pressure and I will be inspired to play well in front of my home fans," he said.

"I will be looking for a win at the Volvo Masters of Asia and with the support of the local fans, I'm confident of making it."

Liang is also in top form, finishing tied third in the Golf Nippon Series JT Cup in Japan on Sunday.

"I think it'll be quite special if I can achieve it as no Chinese player has done it before," said Liang of the money race.

Thai star Thongchai Jaidee will defend his title at the Volvo Masters of Asia. The season finale also holds significance for a number of other players who are aiming to finish inside the top-three of the merit list.

With third-ranked Anton Haig of South Africa absent this week, Australian Scott Hend, Scotland's Simon Yates and Thailand's Prom Meesawat can grab third spot with a victory.

The top-three players from the UBS Order of Merit gain berths at the lucrative WGC-CA Championship next year while the Volvo champion earns a ticket to the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

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